Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in relation to the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy; whom they have consulted as part of that Review; and when they anticipate it will be completed.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In a phased approach, Her Majesty's Government is undertaking detailed horizon-scanning, covering future trends, opportunities, risks and threats; gathering evidence and conducting policy analysis; and developing policy, capability and systems reform options.
Her Majesty's Government is engaging with external experts and wider stakeholders with an interest in our nation's security and prosperity, and the global challenges the UK will face over the coming years. This includes our allies and partners, building on an ongoing dialogue about COVID-19 response and recovery, the Devolved Administrations, civil society and external experts in the UK and overseas. Her Majesty's Government has also launched a Call for Evidence to hear from the public and stakeholders to inform the long-term strategic aims of our international policy and national security, rooted in our national interests.
The Integrated Review process remains closely aligned with the Comprehensive Spending Review, to be published in autumn. This allows the Government to ensure that departments have the resources they need to deliver the Integrated Review's conclusions.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review; with whom they have consulted about that Review; and when they estimate that Review to be completed.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government paused its Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy in April due to the pressing need to focus on COVID-19. We have formally recommenced the Review, building on the work done since the Review was first launched in February.
Our aim continues to be for an ambitious and bold Integrated Review that is guided by the UK's foreign policy and national security objectives.
We will be engaging with Parliament, the Devolved Administrations, external experts and wider stakeholders with an interest in our nation's security and prosperity. This includes our allies and partners, building on our ongoing dialogue on COVID-19 response and recovery.
The Government will conduct targeted engagement that will bring crucial external voices and expertise to bear in defining our ambition for the UK's role in the world and setting the country on the best possible trajectory for the future.
The Integrated Review will remain closely aligned with the Comprehensive Spending Review, to ensure that departments are equipped with the resources they need to enact the Integrated Review's conclusions. The Comprehensive Spending Review will be published in the autumn.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to coordinate an international response to support the rights of Hong Kong citizens in response to China's planned security law for Hong Kong.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Foreign Secretary is engaging actively with a range of international partners to explain our position and impress on them the gravity of situation. We want to build up a groundswell of those who share our commitment to international law. We believe that is the most effective means of getting China to live up to its obligations and responsibilities as a leading member of the international community. We will also work within international institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that China upholds the commitments they made as co-signatory to the Joint Declaration. The UK and the US raised the issue at the UN Security Council on 28 May.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they have provided to the White Helmets in Syria since 1 January; and what assessment they have made of that organisation’s alleged links to terrorist groups.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK provided £716,000 from the Conflict Stability and Security Fund to the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, in the Financial Year 2019/2020. This funding has supported the White Helmets' emergency search and rescue work in Idlib. We assess that allegations linking the White Helmets to terrorist groups are baseless and are part of a concerted disinformation campaign by the Syrian regime and Russia seeking to undermine the White Helmets' valuable work.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made with the Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review; and when they expect it to be completed.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Following the Chancellor's announcement that the Comprehensive Spending Review is being delayed, the Integrated Review has been paused given the pressing need to focus on COVID-19. We will return to the Integrated Review when appropriate to do so, ensuring that we engage with all relevant stakeholders.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have asked for assistance to help address the COVID-19 pandemic from countries less affected by COVID-19; and if so, what kind of assistance they have requested.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is leading with partners and allies to: support an effective and co-ordinated global health response led by WHO, reinforce the resilience of vulnerable countries, pursue a vaccine, support the global economy, and enable travelling nationals to return home where necessary. The UK will work with all our international partners to achieve these objectives, including with the G7, G20, as well as the UN and other multilateral institutions, in order to galvanise a stronger global effort.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement regarding COVID-19 by the Prime Minister of France on 18 March that "if neighbouring states such as the United Kingdom spend too long continuing to avoid these containment measures, then we would have difficulty accepting British nationals who would move freely in their own country and then come to our country."
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We are working closely with the international community, including the Government of France, to ensure that we respond appropriately to COVID-19. The Foreign Secretary spoke to his French counterpart, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, to discuss the international community's response to COVID-19 on 24 March.
The UK's global priority is to support the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other multilateral actors to contain COVID-19 and mitigate secondary health and socio-economic impacts. Our approach is guided by the Chief Medical Officer, working on the basis of the best possible scientific evidence.